Coin collection box



Marchi, 1938. G. A. LONG 2,109,864

G01N COLLECTION BOX Filed July 30, 1936 Cil v Patented Mar. 1, 1938 COIN COLLECTION BOX George A. Long, Hartford, Conn., assignor to The Gray Telephone Pay Station Company, Hartford, Conn., a4 corporation of Connecticut Application July 30, 1936, Serial No. 93,328

6y Claims.

My invention relates to the class of devices which are more commonly used Ain machines where payment is required for their use such as telephone pay stations, parking meters, amusement devices of various sorts, etc., the coins' de- Figure l Vis a front view of the lower portion lof the case for a coin collection box with the door removed.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section through the same on a plane denoted by the dotted lines 2-2 of Fig. `1.

Figure 3 is a View in horizontal section on a plane denoted by the dotted lines 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a View in horizontal section on'a plane denoted by the dotted lines 4 4 of Fig. 2. without the cover. v Y

Figure 5 is a View in horizontal section on -a plane denoted by the dotted lines 5 5 `of Fig. -1, the coin box being partially entered into the case.

Figure 6 is a similar view but showing the coin box fully inserted in the case as shown in Figs. 1,2, and 4; and

Figure 7 is another similar View showing the coin box nearly removed from the case.

ln the accompanying drawing the numeral 8 denotes a portion of the case of an apparatus for the use of which payment is required, the other parts of the case, not shown, usually housing the operating apparatus, as a telephone pay station, a parking meter, an amusement device or other apparatus. The numeral 9 denotes the lower portion of a coin chute through which coins deposited as payment for the use of the apparatus are delivered through a slot lll in the top of a chamber in the case into a coin box.

It is common practice in the Ause of these devices to equip the coin box Il with `a lock l2 vof any suitable construction so that the .interior of Suchbox is not accessible by the collector and can only be opened by an authorized'person having the key to the box. It is essential, however, that the box shall be provided with means for preventing tampering therewith whereby coins might be removed by Ysurreptitious methodaand my improved box illustrated and described herein is for the purpose of providing means for thus guarding its contents. The box may have a handie i3 as a means for withdrawing it'from. the case and Afor carrying it if desired. A cover Hl is removably aixed to the top of the -box said cover having a Aflange l5 surrounding the upper edge of the box, a catch I6 at one end to engage a hole at the edge of the box and a spr-ing hasp 'Il at its opposite end to engage a holder i8 having a hole to receive the shackle of the padlock i2 as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. A coin slot i9 registering with the coin slot i9 when the box is in place in the case 8 opens into a chamber 263 in the top of the box, the bottom of said chamber being formed by a closing `plate 2l having a coin slot 22 registering with the coin slot t3 in the cover. I'he plate 2l is secured to the cover as by means of pins projecting inwardly `from the top of the cover and through holes in the plate 2i, which pins may be headed to secure said plate in spaced relation to the top of the cover. A shutter lever is pivotally attached to the in,- side of the top of the cover lll, this lever comprising at one end a shutter 23 and at its opposite end an offset actuating finger 2A which nger projects through a 'slot 25 formed in the cover, as shown in Figs. 5, 6, and? ofthe drawing. The end of the linger is cut on a slant creating a toe 26 and a heel 2l, said toe Vbeing adapted to engage with a shutter actuator 28 in the form of a flange projecting downwardly from the end of the top 29 of the chamber in the case hereinbefore referred to.Y A retainer 3D is also bent downwardly from 'the end of the top 29, this retainer being offset slightly to one side of the actuator 28, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawing, and vfor a purpose to be hereinafter explained. A lug 3| projects from the retainer into contact with the side of the case 8 to prevent the retainer from being bent out of place. A lip 32 on the lower end of the retainer creates a groove through which the finger 2li passes as the box is pushed into position in the case. VThe shutter is urged to its closed position by a spring 33, shown in dotted lines in Figs. 5 to 7 of the drawing. The top 29 of the chamber for the coin box has an upturned plate fil serving as a means for attachment of said top as to a rib 48 extending along the back of the case 8. A detent 3ft is .pivotally mounted on the closing plate 2l in position to engage the shutter and hold it in its closed position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7 of the drawing.v This detent has a hub 35 projecting through a Ispring chamber formed by a cap 36 secured to the under side of the plate 2| and as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. A spring 31 in said chamber has one end secured to the cap 36 and its opposite end secured to the hub 35 whereby the detent is urged to move toward the shutter and into the positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7 of the drawing. A resetting notch 38 is formed in the hub 35 as a means for turning the detent by means of a key inserted in the slot to engage said detent with a catch 39 pivotally attached to the plate 2| and having a spring 40 urging it into position to engage the detent and as shown in dotted lines in Fig. of the drawing. An arcuate slot is formed in the catch to engage a pin 4I projecting from the plate ZI to limit the movements of the catch, and as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of the drawing.

In the operation of the device thus far described let it be assumed that the coin box is properly arranged for insertion into the case 8, the cover I4 being secured by the lock I2. The collector approaching the case 8 opens the door thereof which will usually be secured by a lock for which the collector has a key. The back of the coin box is inserted into the opening in the case as: shown in Fig. 7 and is pushed inwardly until it reaches the position shown in Fig. 5 whereupon the toe 28 of the finger 24 engages the actuator 28, up to this time the shutter 23, detent 34 and catch 39 being in the relative positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, the slot I9 being closed by the shutter 23. As the box is pushed fully into the case the shutter 23 is swung to the position shown in Fig. 6 against the tension of the spring. The actuating finger 24 engaging the shutter actuator 28 will be swung to the position shown in Fig. 6 in which the coin slot 22 will be uncovered so that coins may pass down the chute 9 and be delivered into the coin box. In this opening movement of they shutter its end opposite the finger 24 engages with the detent 34 and pushes it from engagement with the catch 39, the detent and catch having been held in engagement against the tenL sion of their springs and by engagement of the hooks on the detent and catch, respectively, and as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing. When the detent and catch have been disengaged they will be caused to assume the positions shown in Fig. 6.

Upon removal of the coin box by the collector from the case the spring 33 will force the shutter 23 to its closed position shown in Fig. 5 and the spring 31 will cause the detent to follow the shutter into the position shown in Fig. 7 Whereby the shutter is locked in its closed position and prevents any removal of the coins through the coin slot 22.

The coin box is now delivered to an authorized person having a key to the lock I2. This lock is operated to release the cover I4 and the coins may be removed from the box. This person then by the insertion of an instrument in the slot 38 turns the detent to the position shown in Fig. 5 whereupon the hooks upon the detent and catch 39 will engage, the detent in this movement having been cammed past the hook on the: catch 39. The parts are now in their relative positions shown in Fig. 5 ready for insertion of the box into the case as hereinbefore described.

To prevent tampering with the box and the unlawful removal of the coins therefrom, as by the camming back of the detent 34 by a rigid instrument thrust through the slot I9 in front of the shutter 23 to fully open the slot, said shutter having been retained in a partially open position by a thin instrument pushed through the slot I9 after the box has been partially removed from the case and before said shutter has closed said slot, a shoulder or enlargement 42 is formed on the shutter against which the end of the detent 34 will rest before it reaches its locked position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7. In this position any pressure applied to the shutter will be transmitted lengthwise along the detent to the axis of its pivot and it will therefore be impossible to cam the detent back- Wardly and thereby enable the shutter to be forced back to fully open the slot.

As another means for preventing closing of the shutter on withdrawal of the box whereby an instrument might be inserted through the slot I9 as above described, the heel 2l of the finger 24 hereinbefore referred to is in line with the retainer 30 when the box is fully inserted in the case, and as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing. In this position it will be seen that in order to pass the retainer and permit withdrawal of the box the shutter must be allowed to fully close, else the heel will encounter the retainer and prevent the coin box from being removed.

As a further means for preventing insertion of a thin tool through the slot I9 and over the top of the shutter whereby access might be had to the detent 34 to manipulate said detent to move it from its locked position, as shown in Fig. 7, a lip 43 is formed bounding the slot I9, this lip projecting into contact with the upper surface of the shutter 23 or a plate 44 which has an upstanding lip 45 resting against the under surface of a boss 46 stamped upwardly on the cover I4 and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. This will effectually prevent the insertion of a flexible instrument for the reason that it must pass downwardly under the lip 43 and then upwardly into the chamber in the boss 46, and over the projection 45 it would thus be practically impossible to project the end of such instrument into contact with the detent 34.

I claim:

1. In combination with a case having a chamber top extending thereacross with a coin slot therein and a flange on. one end, a coin box having a cover with a coin slot therein, a shutter pivotally attached to said cover and having a finger projecting through the cover and beyond the end thereof, a shutter actuator projecting from said flange to engage said finger to move the shutter to its opened position, a retainer projecting from said flange to engage said finger and prevent removal of the coin box with the shutter in its opened position, a lug projecting from said flange into contact with a wall of said chamber and for support thereby to prevent distortion of said retainer, a detent pivotally attached to the cover, to engage said shutter to hold it in its closed position, a catch to hold said detent from engagement with the shutter, and means for manually releasing said catch from said detent.

2. A top for a coin collection box, said top comprising a cover having a coin slot therein, a raised boss on said cover providing a recess in its under surface adjacent said slot, a shutter pivotally attached to said cover and having a projection located in said recess to obstruct movement of a thin tool past said projection, a detent to engage said shutter to hold it in its closed position, said detent being shielded by said projection, a catch to engage said detent to hold it from engagement with said shutter, and means for manually releasing said catch from said detent.

3. A top for a coin collection box, said top com. prising a cover having a coin slot therein, a boss raised on said top to provide a recess in the under surface adjacent said slot, a lip at the boundary of said coin slot and located within said recess, a shutter pivotally attached to said cover and having a projection located in said recess to obstruct movement of a thin tool past said projection, a detent to engage said shutter to hold it in its closed position said detent being shielded by said projection, a catch to hold said detent from engagement with said shutter, and means for manually releasing said catch from said detent.

4. In combination with a case having a chamber therein to receive a coin box, a rib extending across the back of said chamber, a top plate secured to said rib and projecting forwardly therefrom and having a coin slot therein, a downwardly extending ange from one end of said top plate bent to form a groove, a coin box having a cover with a coin slot therein, a shutter pivotally attached to said cover and having a projecting finger positioned to pass into said groove, and mechanism within said cover acting in cooperation with said shutter.

5. In combination with a case having a chamber therein, a top plate secured to the back wall of said chamber and extending thereacross near the top with a coin slot therein and a grooved flange on one end, a coin box having a cover with a coin slot therein, a shutter pivotally attached to said cover and having a finger projecting through the cover and beyond the end thereof into said groove, mechanism within said cover co-operating with said-shutter in the operation of the box, and a lug projecting from said flange in contact with the wall of said chamber for support thereby to prevent distortion of said flange.

6. A top for a coin collection box, said top comprising a cover having a coin slot therein, a lip at the edge of said coin slot, a raised boss comprising said lip on said cover and providing a recess in its under surface adjacent to said slot, a shutter pivotally attached to said cover and having a lip turned upwardly from one edge against the under surface of said recess to obstruct movement of a thin tool past said projection, and a detent to engage said shutter to hold it in its closed position, said detent being shielded by said projection from contact with said tool.

GEORGE A. LONG. 

